Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-30
TARIFF. Reform.
Meeting ofthe Massachusetts League.
Speeches by Prominent Men,
rpr tnierranh 70 the nisnnfch1

BosroN, December 29-The meeting
and banquet OF the Massachusetts, Tariff
Reform League at Brunswick tonight
was highly successful. There was pres
ent large number OF well-known public
men from Massachusetts, and elsewhere.
Among those present were James Rus
sell Lowell. Congressman W. 1. 7.
Breckiurdge, of Kentucky; W. l.. VII
son, of West Virginia, and Senator John
T. Morgan. OF Alabama. Shortly before
clock the guests and members began
to arrive, and at j:ij the business meet
ing OF the league was held. Colonel
Charles r. Goldman presided, and reso-
luiions endorsing the message OF fresl-
dent Cleveland were unanimously adopt
ed. The officers were then elected. 1T
vas 7 o'clock when the gentlemen, to the
number of 3l2, were seated IN the ban
quct hall and Rev. James Freeman
Clark, d. D., invoked the Divine bless
iu9.
After the banquet James Russell Lowell
raped the meeting TO order. in the
course Of his address Mr.. Lowell was IN
termptcd frequently by storms OF APP
plause. At his first reference to Presi-
dent Cleveland DR.. William Everett. Jr.,
proposed three cheers for Cleveland,
which were given with a will. Upon con
GLIDING his speech Mr. Lowell miro
duced Hon John +. Morgan, OF Ala
bam0. the Senator said:
81 believe wcare now about TO relieve
our country of some Of the iatuous en-
t.rprises which have injured her and
crippled our wealth. TO me 1t is plea
SAINT thing that the men of the South and
North are to-day comforting upon ques-
/ ton which is OF interest tO0ll OF us we
find now and will find forever that there
/ is no sedate reason why the two
sections should be embrclled. Sec
tional lines Of distinction no longer
/ exist and we are AZ last one people. /
/ object 10 Tint system which wings
| money from the people 10 bestowit upon
political aspmuts. be they friend or
/ otherwise. In the Senate ! represent the
most prominent, in tue degree OF manu-
facturos. ofall Of the southern States, and
since our system OF labor has been
changed this development oil It's re-
sources has come to light. With
these elements OF ratgral wealth it may
be supposed that ] would seek the
aid of every advantageous enterprise to
assist them. hut ! have an idea that it
ought not TO depend on the idea of Con-
eress. have an idea that we ought to
shake hands with God who gives them,
and not with Congress. The system OF
taxation for tariff has outgrown itself.
The question is Shall We cut down the
revenue 10 our wants, or shall we
keep this revenue year after year, or
/ shall We dry up the sources OF tins reye-
nue. and stop this wrong to the country ?
The men of the South are glad that the
time has arrived when a change to Their
interest Will be made, and now that Bos-
ton is awake the whole country will not
dare TO slumher.
Congressman Brcckinridge, of Ken
lucky, was introduced, and after speak
ing OF the grave importance OF the tariff
question and the pressing need OF con
eressional action, said protection Is
never healthy, nor in the long run
profitable. any more than teyerlsh
strength and rcstlessness produced by
stimulants is the evidence Of health.
The present rates OF taxation are I'M
cdual. onerous, and hurttul to the mass OF
those employed in the industries pro
fcssedly sought to he protected, ard so far
as taxation is unnecessary for the ne
ccssities of q government economically
administered it is unjustly imposed and
ILLEGALLY gathered from the people. 4
reduction Of taxation and a revision OF
the tariff. TO which both the great po-
ltical parties are pledged, must be made
gradually and cautiously, with the con
slant remembrance That the systems
long established cannot be really
changed and that grave practical diff
cultics lie in the path OF any reform. In
the nature of the case all protective tar
ifs must have m element Of instability
and uncertainty. There are few L
whom this system Is Indeed bonanza
to al Others It is an injury and wrong
Hon. George VI. Steams fol
lowed in a speech full Of hu
NOR. in which he advocated
tariff reform. Colonel Charles r. Cod
man. Congressman Wilson Of West Nir
cinia, Congressman Rogers OF Arkansas
| Dr. William Everett. and W. w. Cliff
ford of Portland followed in brief al
dresses. 1t was past midnight when the
Gathering broke up.